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| Charging for carrier bags cuts use by 147 million in first year | Charging for carrier bags cuts use by 147 million in first year |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Making people in Scotland pay for carrier bags reduced their use by 147 million last year. | |
| The drop came despite the 5p charge for single-use bags only being in place for the last 11 weeks of 2014. | The drop came despite the 5p charge for single-use bags only being in place for the last 11 weeks of 2014. |
| It follows statistics released three months ago which suggested the number of carrier bags being used by shoppers had fallen by 90%. | It follows statistics released three months ago which suggested the number of carrier bags being used by shoppers had fallen by 90%. |
| Figures from environmental group Wrap covered the 2014 calendar year in the UK from seven major grocery retailers. | Figures from environmental group Wrap covered the 2014 calendar year in the UK from seven major grocery retailers. |
| In Scotland, in the final quarter of the year after the 5p charge was introduced, bag usage dropped by 129 million compared with the previous year. | |
| Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said the figures were "astounding" and showed the country was serious about tackling litter and reducing waste. | Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said the figures were "astounding" and showed the country was serious about tackling litter and reducing waste. |
| Good causes | Good causes |
| He said: "I hope the public will continue to embrace re-using their bags and that even more retailers will sign up to donate money to good causes when it has been necessary for people to take a bag. | He said: "I hope the public will continue to embrace re-using their bags and that even more retailers will sign up to donate money to good causes when it has been necessary for people to take a bag. |
| "These figures also demonstrate how small changes can make a big difference and, as Scotland moves towards a more circular economy, I hope that it inspires people to think about what other actions they can take to reduce the amount of resources that they throw away." | "These figures also demonstrate how small changes can make a big difference and, as Scotland moves towards a more circular economy, I hope that it inspires people to think about what other actions they can take to reduce the amount of resources that they throw away." |
| The Scottish government has said it aims to reduce the use of single-use bags in Scotland by 80% in the first full year of the charge. | The Scottish government has said it aims to reduce the use of single-use bags in Scotland by 80% in the first full year of the charge. |
| That would bring Scotland in line with what Wales and Northern Ireland achieved in the first full year of their campaign. | That would bring Scotland in line with what Wales and Northern Ireland achieved in the first full year of their campaign. |
| Previous statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every year - more per head of population than anywhere else in the UK. | Previous statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every year - more per head of population than anywhere else in the UK. |
| WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "It's fantastic to learn that carrier bag usage in Scotland has dropped so spectacularly since the 5p charge was introduced. | WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "It's fantastic to learn that carrier bag usage in Scotland has dropped so spectacularly since the 5p charge was introduced. |
| "The clear success of this initiative should encourage ministers to press on with other bold ideas to help make Scotland a zero-waste nation." | "The clear success of this initiative should encourage ministers to press on with other bold ideas to help make Scotland a zero-waste nation." |